Here’s The Story Behind The Massive Ronald Reagan Statue In Louisiana
By Jackie Ann|Published March 01, 2022
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Jackie Ann
Author
Louisiana native and LSU Alum (Geaux Tigers!), Jackie has lived in Louisiana for over three decades and currently lives in New Orleans. She's been writing for OnlyInYourState since 2016 and can often be found with a coffee at her side, dreaming of her next adventure.
Covington is a charming city just north of New Orleans that’s the best of both worlds. Even though the city is home to over 10,000 residents, it still maintains that small-town charm while functioning as a major city. The historic downtown area is a beautifully walkable area with tons of unique boutiques, antique stores, and local restaurants that make Covington a perfect day-trip destination. The city is also home to a unique claim to fame: the largest Ronald Reagan statue in the entire world is located here, and it’s worth checking out.
The statue is located at the Covington Trailhead for the Tammany Trace.
No, Ronald Reagan did not have any ties to Covington. The statue was the brainchild of Patrick F. Taylor, an oil tycoon with Louisiana roots who was responsible for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, more commonly known as the TOPS program. TOPS enabled Louisiana students to receive scholarships to Louisiana public colleges, a program that helped countless youthful Louisianians attend college.
Taylor was a strong supporter of Ronald Reagan and had wanted to build a memorial to his favorite president.
Sadly, Taylor passed away before he was able to see his project all the way through. His foundation continued his work, Covington volunteered to be the dedicated site, and local sculpture Patrick Miller was commissioned to build the statue. Another major setback occurred when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005 and delayed the plans, but the statue was finally unveiled in 2008, and he looks pretty happy to be there!
Have you ever seen the sculpture in person? Let us know in the comments!
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